Du Surname

Surname Overview

Du (篤) is a rare surname in current use, recorded with the pronunciation dǔ (ㄉㄨˇ). Its population is recorded as fewer than one thousand, with a latest Baijiaxing ranking of 2190.

Reference: 笃姓_笃姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Origins

Origin from Duma River

One branch originated from the Duma River in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Residents of its basin took the river’s name as their surname, and Duma shi was later abbreviated to the single surname Du.

Reference: 笃姓_笃姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Yi Du Lineage

Among the Yi, the Du lineage originated with the ancestor Apu Dumu. Su Po: Sacrifice to Dumu treats Apu Dumu as the first generation and records a patronymic lineage including Duzhai shi, Dumu shi, and D uke shi.

Reference: 笃姓_笃姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Mongol Origin

One branch originated with Dulin, a descendant of Muqali in the Yuan period. Some of his descendants adopted the Chinese surname Du from their ancestor’s name.

Reference: 笃姓_笃姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Historical Records

Early Figure and Textual Record

Yan Du, courtesy name Shujian, was from Chou in Nanyang during the Eastern Han. He served as a boshi, yilang, and Jingzhao Yin, and wrote twenty pieces including poems, treatises, inscriptions, letters, memorials, teachings, and orders. Some descendants later adopted his name as their surname.

Reference: 笃姓_笃姓的来源和历史_百家姓

Notable People

Historical Figures and Distribution

Du Zicheng was from Jianshui, Yunnan, and served as assistant magistrate of Shunyi during the Yongle era. Du Lietu, courtesy name Jingfu, was from Yanshan and served as a compiler in the Jixian Academy and as an investigating censor of the Southern Branch. Duerba was a Manchu Plain Blue Banner member, served as a zuoling, and received the rank of second-class Qingche Duw ei. The surname is recorded in Guichi, Anhui; Xintai, Shandong; and Yangmingshan, Taiwan.

Reference: 笃姓_笃姓的来源和历史_百家姓